A five-year-old girl from Ebonyi State has reportedly been swept away by floodwaters in Aba, Abia State, following a heavy downpour that lasted several hours.
The incident occurred on Saturday along Akpu Road in the Ogbor Hill area of Aba. The victim, identified as Melody, was said to be from Edda Community in Afikpo North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.
According to reports, Melody and her seven-year-old brother left their residence during the rainfall to play outside. While they were reportedly bathing in the rain, the young girl allegedly sat on an uncovered drainage collection box and accidentally fell into it. She was subsequently carried away by the rushing floodwater.
Residents in the area immediately alerted the children’s mother, who trades at the nearby Good Morning Market. Neighbours said the woman had warned her children against going outside during the rain before leaving for work earlier that day.
A search operation was launched shortly after the incident, but efforts to locate the child were unsuccessful. Search teams and local divers reportedly resumed operations on Monday around the Waterside River area in Aba.
Community members fear the flood current may have trapped the girl beneath drainage tunnels or carried her into the Aba River, popularly known as Waterside.
As of the time of this report, search efforts were still ongoing.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over open drainage channels and the increasing risks associated with flooding in urban areas during the rainy season.
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